My Indonesian Barkada A SEAcret Weapon Against Homesickness

Everyone says the best part of traveling is the places you see. I think it’s the people you meet.

From day one, we were welcomed by our amazing student buddies, Syafa and Unggu. Their smiles made us feel immediately at ease.

But our real home was the dorm. That’s where we met Lathifa, who quickly became our sister. She was always there, making sure we were comfortable and happy. She never let us feel like outsiders.

Our circle grew to include so many wonderful friends like Dinda, Velisa, Maria, and Tiya. They invited us to feasts (our version of a boodle fight!), cooked satay with us, and shared their sweet pandan juice. They took us on adventures, teaching us how to navigate with "Jak Linggo" and explore their city.

But the heart of our trip were the nightly chats with Lathifa. We would sit on the dorm stairs every evening, talking and laughing until we forgot all about being homesick. Those simple moments meant everything.

It’s funny how you find friends in the most unexpected places—I even met one of my closest friends in the dorm bathroom!

We also can’t forget the kind employees at our dorm who worked so hard to make us comfortable. Ms. Gista and Sir Dede were always there, making sure we had everything we needed and helping us with any request. Their kindness made our dorm feel truly like a home.

We are also so grateful to all the professors at UHAMKA, especially Ma’am Deasy, and all the faculty who welcomed us with open arms.

And to our students, who became our friends—thank you for your support and laughter.

Thank you to everyone who made Indonesia feel like a second home. Terima kasih banyak to our Indonesian family.